County Lines Drug Gangs 2022-09-05
2022-09-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns over the exploitation of children and young adults by county lines criminal networks prompted this inquiry. The question seeks to understand what steps are being taken to address these issues.
What steps she is taking to tackle the exploitation of children and young adults by county lines criminal networks?
Through our drugs strategy, we are investing up to £145 million in the county lines programme to tackle ruthless gangs harming our communities. That includes providing specialist support to victims of county lines exploitation and their families. Since 2019, police activity funded by the programme has resulted in more than 2,400 line closures, 8,000 arrests and 9,500 individuals engaged through safeguarding interventions.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
There has been an increase in county lines drug operations, leading to calls for stricter penalties and classification of certain drugs. Jonathan Gullis seeks support from his hon. Friend in supporting the reclassification of monkey dust.
Over the summer recess I was proud to join our brave Staffordshire police officers on a drugs raid of a suspected county lines operation. Sadly, we have seen an increase in filthy drug thugs peddling their dirt on our streets. It is because of this that I ask my hon. Friend to join me in supporting the campaign to have monkey dust reclassified as a class A substance and increase the prison sentence for those involved.
I would of course be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to talk about this issue in more detail. Monkey dust is a street name for certain cathinones. The Government recognise the harm of cathinones, which is why they are controlled under class B of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The penalty for supplying a class B drug is 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. There are no plans to reclassify those drugs, although the Government keep drug classification under review and will seek to take account of any new evidence of harms.
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Assessment & feedback
Reclassifying monkey dust as a class A substance
We Keep Drug Classification Under Review
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a shortfall in the recruitment of promised additional police officers in the West Mercia force, affecting efforts to tackle county lines issues. Helen Morgan seeks reassurance that these officers will be recruited.
Over the summer I met residents and parents in North Shropshire who are concerned about the presence of county lines drug networks in our market towns. Our local police force has done a superb job in breaking up some of those lines, but more needs to be done. The Government promised an additional 311 police officers in West Mercia, but at the moment we are only at 165—far off target. Can the Minister reassure me that those additional police officers will be recruited into West Mercia to tackle the ongoing county lines problem?
I thank the hon. Lady for approaching this issue so constructively, because the matter of county lines gangs is of huge concern to communities both urban and rural, as she alludes to. The team in the Home Office will work very constructively and intensively with her force to ensure that we see the uplift programme through, so that her constituents feel the maximum benefit of the highest number of officers possible out on the streets, catching criminals and deterring crime.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to recruit additional police officers in West Mercia
We Will Work Constructively And Intensively With Her Force
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
There is an initiative involving the Home Office, British Transport police, and Hampshire Constabulary to tackle county lines issues. Maria Miller seeks confirmation on its continuation.
Thanks to the work of the Home Office, British Transport police are working alongside Hampshire Constabulary to help tackle the appalling problems we have with county lines in north Hampshire. Can my hon. Friend tell me whether that is a project that he continues to see moving forward?
I thank my right hon. Friend for the way she approaches this issue and her positive advocacy for that initiative, which we are committed to. It is about continuing to roll out the county lines programme, with £145 million over the next three years, to tackle what is the most violent and exploitative distribution model yet seen. It is about safeguarding vulnerable people from being exploited, arresting and charging those running the lines, and stopping them exploiting people.
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Assessment & feedback
Confirmation of continuation of the project
We Are Committed To This Initiative
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
There has been a concerning rise in teenagers going missing, linked to county lines drug activity. Seema Malhotra seeks confirmation on implementing the definition of child criminal exploitation in law and assessing police resources.
Local police have told me that they have seen a worrying rise in teenagers going missing, and there is inevitably an increase in county lines activity. Given the huge issues with county lines drugs gangs exploiting vulnerable children, will the Minister confirm whether the Government will be implementing the definition of child criminal exploitation in law and assessing whether police have the resources on the ground to deal with this terrible issue?
It is fair to say that what is happening in London is a considerable increase in police officer numbers, running at nearly 3,000 already recruited through the uplift programme, as well as additional funding in the millions and millions of pounds. The Mayor of London has the resources he requires to tackle these issues and this criminality. It is important that the hon. Lady has strong dialogue with him on that and, of course, the Home Office will continue to monitor progress on the issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Implementation of legal definition of child criminal exploitation and assessing police resources
Dialogue With Mayor Of London
Response accuracy